Three brothers killed in Air Force in 12 months. Parents Gave ALL!

I thought with the 70th Anniversary of the oldest son being killed with 466sq today, we should remember the very appropriate saying, " Some gave some and some gave all"! They were from the country town of Casino in Northern New South Wales, Australia. Parents who lost three sons in the RAAF in WW2 in less than a year. The two oldest were married. One was lost to 466sq, one to 460sq and the youngest to 27 OTU RAF. We all can only wonder how their parents could deal with such a tragic loss of their three sons. 3 crews, 23 lives lost.

466 SQUADRON RAAF WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death: 18 March 1944
Source:
AWM 64 1/360 Part 1 AWM 237 (63) (64) NAA : A705, 166/43/562
Commonwealth War Graves records
Aircraft Type: Halifax
Serial number: LV 827
Radio call sign: HD -
Unit: 466 Sqn RAAF
Summary:
Halifax LV827 took off from RAF Leconfield at 1918 hours on the night of 18/19th March 1944 to bomb Frankfurt, Germany. Twelve aircraft from the Squadron took part in the raid and three of these including LV827 failed to return.
Crew:
RAAF 420314 PO Watson, M D Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 410253 Flt Sgt E S Newell, (Navigator)
RAAF 414775 WO G E Doggett, (Bomb Aimer)
RAF Sgt C Roberts, (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAAF 406618 FO Gream, L A (Rear Gunner)
RAAF 403750 F O Lees W H, (Mid Upper Gunner)
RAF Sgt H G Price, (Flight Engineer)
It was later established that all the crew were killed in the crash. They are buried in the
Durnbach War Cemetery. Durnbach is a village 16kms east of Bad Tolz a town 48kms
south of Munich.
PO Watson was on his sixth operational mission, and was one of three sons in the RAAF
(air crew) all of whom were killed in WW2.


RAAF FATALITIES IN SECOND WORLD WAR AMONG
RAAF PERSONNEL SERVING ON ATTACHMENT
IN ROYAL AIR FORCE SQUADRONS AND SUPPORT UNITS

Source:
AWM 237 (65) NAA : A705, Commonwealth War Graves records
W R Chorley : RAF Bombe Command Losses Operational Training Units, 1940-1947,
Page 208, Volume 7.
Aircraft Type: Wellington
Serial number: X 3547
Radio call sign:
Unit: 27 Op Training RAF
Summary:
On the 20th March 1943, Wellington X3547 took off from RAF Lichfield detailed to
carry out cine camera gun exercise. The aircraft crashed at 1520 hours after flying into a
barrage balloon cable at Barrows Green in the northeast outskirts of Crewe, Cheshire. It
is much suspected that the crash site was attended by RAF Cranage.
Crew:
RAAF 402813 Flt Sgt L D Watson, Captain (Pilot)
RAF Sgt D Williams, (Pilot)
RAF Sgt J E Rouse, (Air Bomber)
RAF Sgt F R Conway (Wireless Air Gunner)
RAF Flt Sgt L G Coppins, (Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt H T Holley, (Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt L F Hills, (Air Gunner)
RAAF 401498 Flt Sgt W D K Forbes, (Air Gunner)
Both Flt Sgt Watson and Flt Sgt Forbes are buried in the Byley (St John) Churchyard,
UK.
Sgt Williams is buried in the Cadoxron-Juxta-Neath (SS Catwyg and Illtyd) Churchyard.
UK.
Sgt Rouse is buried in the Wandsworth (Streatham) Cemetery, UK.
Sgt Conway is buried in the Eccleshall (All Saints) Cemetery, UK.
Flt Sgt Coppins is buried in the Hucknall Cemetery, UK.
Sgt Holley is buried in the Mortlake Cemetery, UK.
Sgt Hills is buried in the New Southgate Cemetery, UK.


460 SQUADRON RAAF, WORLD WAR 2 FATALITIES
Date of Death : 22 September 1943
Source:
AWM 64 (1/293) AWM 237 (63) (64)
NAA : A705, 166/38/215
Aircraft Type: Lancaster
Serial number: JA 859
Radio call sign: AR -
Unit: 460 Sqn RAAF
Summary:
Lancaster JA 859 took off from RAF Binbrook at 1903 hours on 22 September 1943 to
attack Hanover. Bomb load 1 x 4000lb and 3 x 1000lb bombs, 48 x 30lb and 570 x 4lb
incendiaries. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it did not return to
base. Twenty four aircraft from the squadron took part in the raid.
Crew:
RAAF 413665 PO Smith, C K Captain (Pilot)
RAAF 420328 FO Watson, M T L (2nd Pilot)
RAAF 409683 Flt Sgt Galt, K R (Navigator)
RAAF 5148 Flt Sgt Sibbit, E M (Bomb Aimer)
RAAF 420155 Flt Sgt Cranfield, A A (Wireless Operator Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt Clayton, E G (Flight Engineer)
RAAF 409560 Flt Sgt Lucy, H K (Air Gunner)
RAF Sgt Hampton, R T (Air Gunner)
Following post war enquiries and investigations, it was established that the aircraft
crashed on the east bank of the Weser river at Bremen-Walle north west from the city
centre. All the crew were killed and they are interred in the Becklingen War Cemetery,
Soltau, 45 miles east of Bremen, Germany.

WATSON, MALCOLM DOUGLAS
Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
420314
Date of Death:
18/03/1944
Age:
30
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
7. H. 9.
Cemetery
DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James and Nina Beryl Watson; husband of Kathleen Watson, of Casino, New South Wales, Australia.

WATSON, LEONARD DAVID
Rank:
Flight Sergeant
Service No:
402813
Date of Death:
20/03/1943
Age:
24
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Sec. E. Grave 14.
Cemetery
BYLEY (ST. JOHN) CHURCHYARD
Additional Information:
Son of James and Nina Beryl Watson, of Casino, New South Wales, Australia.

WATSON, MAXWELL THOMAS LOCKWOOD
Rank:
Flying Officer
Service No:
420328
Date of Death:
22/09/1943
Age:
27
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Coll. grave 27. F. 8-11.
Cemetery
BECKLINGEN WAR CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James and Nina Beryl Watson; husband of Jean Phyllis Watson, of South Casino, New South Wales, Australia.


(The photo at Cheshire Byley is difficult to read the wording - If someone could take a Hi-Res photo, I would be most appreciative.)

 

I am assuming also the only 3 brothers lost flying with either RAAF or RAF?

 

Hi Hesmond,

Not quite sure however someone would surely be able to tell us.

The loss of three sons or three children one by one is just unimaginable.

 

Geoff

Are you OK for the Durnbach pic ?
(I only ask because, as you know, my brother is buried there and I have a most excellent link at the CWGC Cemetery)

And yes, one can only imagine the terrible effect on a family that has lost three members.

Lest we forget !

Ron

 

Hi Ron,

The Durnbach photo attached has been resized down as the original is 2.5mg.

The Cheshire Byley photo of the younger brother,and besides being a lot lower in resolution, the light flicker through it makes it difficult to decpher the wording that the family wrote.

Thanks for thinking of me.

Cheers

Geoff

 

good day spidge.very senior member.yesterday,08:34am.re:three brothers killed in air force in 12 month'sparent gave all.thank you for posting.may the brothers rest in peace.regards bernard85